Jean-Baptiste Marteau seems to be waiting for summer as one waits for Christmas.
During this summer period, the journalist will take over the controls of the info on France 2. Initially at the head of the "20 Hours" to replace Anne-Sophie Lapix then in August at the controls of the "13 hours", usually presented by Julian Bugier.
It is thanks to one of his books devoted to politics that Laurent Delahousse spotted him and encouraged him to join the France Télévisions group.
Since 2013, this specialist has been a joker, reporter, speaker on programs like “Élysée 2022” or during the four election nights.
He was also entrusted with the reins of special editions linked to the pandemic, the reshuffle or even the investiture of Emmanuel Macron.
Read alsoWho are the television news jokers for the summer of 2022?
Jean-Baptiste Marteau will also participate in the July 14 device set up by the public service channel.
For France 2, the journalist will comment live on the national holiday aboard a rafale.
“An extraordinary experience”
, comments the presenter who is preparing to celebrate his 100th television news as a joker within the France Télévisions group, a milestone of which
“he is particularly proud”
.
Jean-Baptiste Marteau inaugurates our summer series and shares his vision, his memories and the challenges of a capital journalistic role, also synonymous with holidays for viewers.
LE FIGARO. - How do you see this summer as an information joker?
Jean-Baptiste HAMMER.
-
Summer is always a time of excitement for me.
We are a reduced team with different dynamics.
Many young CDD or work-study students work with us to swell the teams.
It's really an atmosphere that I love, maybe because there is a little less tension and stress?
I feel a real pleasure to come to work in the editorial department.
Beyond the unexpected, would you say that the news is less dense in the summer?
Contrary to what one might think, there is always something going on.
We are regularly confronted with climatic, international, sporting or political events… I remember my very first summer as a joker in 2009 on LCI.
Nicolas Sarkozy, president at the time, intervened on behalf of Europe for the war in Georgia, we had gone on endless special editions.
On France 2 in 2018, we learn 45 minutes before the live the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa.
For a journalist, these are very strong moments when you have to be very reactive.
In general, in summer, we bet on offering other subjects.
Maybe what we wouldn't do all year round.
These may be somewhat demanding subjects, but it
is also what viewers are looking for.
The summer news does not necessarily open on the heat wave.
What is the responsibility of the joker vis-à-vis the viewer?
I'm starting to have a long-standing relationship with the viewers.
When I'm at the presentation of a news I think they say to themselves
“Ah it's the holidays!
(laughs)
.
The joker must, above all, carry the work of the editorial staff.
This is not Jean-Baptiste Marteau's newspaper but the France 2 teams. They entrust me with their work to highlight it on the air.
I talk a lot with the DG reporters and feed on their opinions to offer the best bulletins to those who watch us.
As a joker, I always try to improve myself.
How did you react when you learned that you were going to present your 100th news on France 2?
Wow!
(sic) There is already a hell of a road!
From a very young age, I have been a news enthusiast.
I spent my time reading newspapers.
First
Mon petit Quotidien
then quickly from the press like
Le Figaro
.
It even scared my parents!
My grandmother reminded me that while watching the news at home, I said to her:
"One day, I would like to present a 20 Hours"
.
I may not be a regular, but it's incredible to hear my loved ones say to me:
“You see, you dreamed of doing it, you've done it a hundred times”
.
If someone had told me that when I was ten years old, I wouldn't have believed it.
“On my very first 20 hours, if I had been given the choice between staying and going home, I would have run!
»
Jean-Baptiste Hammer
What memories do you have of your first time as a joker?
A crazy memory.
I was a journalist on LCI and I was made to understand that this first test would be crucial for the future.
We had done some rehearsals on set.
I was very confident, I'm not stressed by nature.
Then for a moment, the light went out, the weather presenter at the time had announced:
“Immediately, the first 20 hours of Jean-Baptiste Marteau”
.
I think if I had been given the choice between staying and going home straight away, I would have run away (laughs).
I also remember that Virginie Efira was my guest.
Before the launch of the live, she told me to be a little stressed because it was her first 8 p.m.
I then said to him:
"Don't worry, me too!
»
.
She was dying of laughter and that had helped me a lot to understand this wind of stress.
Since then, a lot has happened.
Can a joker add a personal touch to his newscasts?
I don't know if we can talk about a signature, but I always put myself in the viewer's shoes.
I think of my grandmother and wonder if she will understand.
Without taking people for idiots, far from it, I make sure not to be a lesson giver.
You have to keep smiling and explain any subject.
When I meet people, they say they like my smile and the way I tell the news.
I love being told that.
I want people to understand me, the speech must be clear, didactic, factual without being satisfied with the minimum.
You can be a little demanding, do things that may seem a little dry at first and then make it intelligible for the majority.
Do you interact with the incumbent presenters that you replace?
Yes a lot !
We write to each other quite often.
I realize that those I replace continue to watch the news and our work during the summer.
It's very pleasant.
I get on very well with them and especially Laurent Delahousse.
It was he who brought me to France 2, eight years ago now!
I had written a political book that he must have had in his hands.
We met and since then we have this particular bond of almost somewhat filial trust.
This year, we worked together on election nights.
For me, being by his side live was the culmination of a long relationship.
“After a five-year term in political service, I want to move on.
»
Jean-Baptiste Hammer
What is your assessment of this election year in which you played an active role?
Particular.
In 2017, I had experienced a completely crazy campaign in the field as a reporter.
This year, everything may seem dull in the face of the many twists and turns we had experienced five years before.
There, I have the impression of having lived three years in one.
I had the chance to cover this campaign via "Élysée 2022", special editions, thematic programs.
But above all, taking part in election nights for the first time was very unique.
There was a particular pressure because we were preparing new devices.
I was in charge of announcing the results via a touch screen.
Everything happened to us directly.
It might seem simple to the eye of the viewer,
as if we had discovered a giant iPad at France 2, but these new media required months of work and development.
I was very proud to carry the work of the teams.
The rendering was very strong, for six hours of live, we told the unexpected, improvise, and these innovations stimulated our reactivity.
Tell us about the July 14 device set up by France 2 and in which you are participating...
I had never participated in the July 14 device before.
A few months ago, I was offered to ride in a gust and shoot two reports in immersion.
I said yes right away.
It's an extraordinary experience and I put myself in the shoes of millions of French people who would dream of doing it.
Pilots welcomed me to board this legendary aircraft.
We will show viewers their daily life, briefing and preparations around the plane.
At one point, the pilot even left me the stick where I could drive under his supervision.
Being in a flurry is like a roller coaster multiplied by ten.
For a few seconds, we went up to eight Gs, eight times the weight of the body.
I almost passed out and my vision even narrowed temporarily.
My blood no longer reached the brain.
On July 14, we will do it again live.
I will be in a flurry and comment on the parade above the Champs-Élysées.
Only on France 2 can we experience things like this!
Jean-Baptiste Marteau aboard a rafale for the July 14 Roul Gilibert - FTV
What are your plans after this summer?
For now, all options are open.
I talk a lot internally and externally.
I will make choices in the weeks to come.
It is still early.
What is certain is that there will be change.
I will no longer be in political service at the start of the school year as in previous years.
This is my decision, we are talking about the end of a stage.
After a five-year term in political service, I want to move on.
Nothing is finalized yet but we are thinking of slightly different things.
I don't close any doors.
Obviously, I won't present “N'oublie pas les mots” but why not tell the news in a slightly less solemn way, like in “C à Vous”?
I made some replacements there this season, they talk about extremely serious subjects,
